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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2021
THE DAILY PENNSYLVANIAN | THEDP.COM
Photo Essay | Always seen, but what do they mean? The stories of 10 iconic campus sculptures MAX MESTER News Photo Editor
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enn’s campus is enriched at every corner by illustrious works of art. While these pieces serve the practical purpose of convenient meeting locations for students, many of them also have intriguing backgrounds and unbeknown meanings. From looming statues to intricate gates, here are 10 installations that bring campus to life.
KYLIE COOPER “Brick House” (2019) by Simone Leigh, Penn’s latest statue that was installed in November 2020, stands at 34th and Walnut streets. It draws inspiration from the African diaspora and incorporates themes of wealth and femininity.
AMY GUO “Covenant” (1974) by Alexander Liberman stretches over Locust Walk, though is more commonly referred to by students as the “Dueling Tampons.” Drawing from his Jewish roots, Liberman “hoped to create a feeling of bonding together for a higher purpose.”
DIEGO CÁRDENAS URIBE “Quadrature #1” (1977) by Robert Engman is at the end of Hamilton Walk in T.G. Miller Plaza. Engman, a former Penn professor who taught sculpting, often incorporates mathematic principles into his pieces.
MELANIE HILMAN “Social Consciousness” (1954) by Jacob Epstein is located near Van Pelt Library. In 2019, the statue was relocated to Penn’s campus from the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Epstein’s work is a commentary on the sympathy, tenderness, and affliction of
EZRA TROY “Split Button” (1981) by Claes Oldenberg rests between Van Pelt Library and College Hall. Legend has it that a button fell off of Benjamin Franklin’s vest, split in half, rolled across Locust Walk, and became enlarged upon coming to a stop in front of Van Pelt
MELANIE HILMAN “The Kelly Family Gates” (2003) by Mark Lueders serves as the entranceway to the Charles Addams Fine Arts Hall. The hands not only represent creativity, but are also a nod to the “Addams Family” character Thing, which is a disembodied hand.
SUKHMANI KAUR “Love” (1966) by Robert Indiana stands at the east end of Locust Walk. Indiana created several Love statues that can be found across the globe. Philadelphia’s most notable Love statue is located in John F. Kennedy Plaza, commonly known as Love Park.
MELANIE HILMAN “Peace Symbol” (1967), another work by Robert Engman featured on Penn’s campus, is situated close to Van Pelt Library. This sculpture memorializes the victims of the Vietnam War, which the Penn community often demonstrated against in the 1970s.
MARIJA WESTFALL “Black Forest” (1977), designed by 1963 School of Fine Arts graduate Robinson Fredenthal, stands adjacent to College Hall. Fredenthal turned from architecture to geometric sculptures after the onset of Parkinson’s disease at 24 years old.
HANNAH JUNG “Life Savers” (1982) by Billie Lawless is located at 38th and Spruce streets. The sculpture was gifted to Penn by local philanthropists Philip and Muriel Berman.